[Anubis]

The 4:1 ratio is in relation to time spent charging not how many charges you do. So if you spend 4 hours on a slow level one charge, then one hour on the level 3 DC fast charge to be at 4:1. I've been through all the Harley-Davidson University training in Milwaukee and the engineers explained that the 4:1 ratio recommendation relates to time.

So if I'm understanding this correctly, it sounds like the 4:1 ratio really is kind of meaningless assuming you charge at home on even a semi-regular basis? For me, I've charged 5 times for a total of about 30 hours at home (I haven't used a fast charger yet since most of my rides are relatively short), so in order to violate the 4:1 ratio I'd have to fast charge about 7 hours (which would probably be 7 complete charges or about 500 highway miles) before I'd go over the recommended charge ratio.

It seems like the take-home point is that you shouldn't exclusively charge using a fast charger.

 

[Anubis]

"One quick note on charging if you have not read your owners manual. Best practice for charging is keep as close to a 4:1 ratio between level 1 and level 3 DC. Four level 1 to one level 3 charges."

Is it really ideal to do the 4:1 ratio charging? The owner's manual says the following:

• When recharging the RESS, choose Level 1 (110V to 220V) charging when possible. Level 1 charging causes the least amount of stress to the RESS.
• The RESS does not limit the number of times a Level 3 DC fast charger (480V) can be used. However, more frequent DC fast charging will stress the RESS more than Level 1 charging. If possible, avoid using DC fast charge, exclusively. The suggested best practice is to alternate your charging between Level 1 and Level 3 DC Fast Charge in a 4:1 ratio (4 Level 1 charges to every 1 Level 3 fast charge).

Based on the first line it appears that the ideal practice is to ONLY charge using a Level 1 charger. I take the second bullet point to mean that if you do use Level 3 charging, it is best to use the 4:1 ratio.

Has anyone clarified this with an engineer (not a salesman)?